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Neuer: His year in pictures

FC Bayern München goalkeeper Manuel Neuer could be crowned as the world's best player after being named on the final three-man shortlist for the FIFA Ballon d'Or 2014. VfB Stuttgart had Bayern on the ropes in the rearranged Matchday 17 fixture in 2013/14, but Neuer kept the Bavarians in the game with a series of spectacular saves. Pep Guardiola's side went on to win the encounter 2-1, with Thiago Alcantara scoring a spectacular late winnerThe Germany custodian was one of the standout performers in both legs of Bayern's UEFA Champions League last-16 tie with Arsenal FC earlier this year. The Munich club advanced to the last eight with a 3-1 aggregate winNeuer was kept similarly busy against Manchester United FC in the quarter-final of Europe's premier club competition, the 2013 FIFPro Goalkeeper of the Year pulling off some spectacular stops against the English record championsHands on the trophy: Neuer conceded only 13 Bundesliga goals in 2013/14 and kept a total of 16 clean sheets in 28 league appearances as Bayern secured yet another titleAn extra-time victory over Borussia Dortmund sealed a second straight DFB Cup trophy for the Bavarians in May. Neuer put his body on the line to stop every shot that came his way, keeping yet another clean sheetAfter helping Bayern to a domestic double, Neuer returned to action for Germany at the 2014 FIFA World Cup. The former FC Schalke 04 man was dubbed 'sweeper-keeper' following his all-action display against Algeria in the last 16In the semi-final against France, Neuer pulled off an outstanding save to thwart Karim Benzema and help the The crowning glory of a long, hard season: Germany beat Argentina 1-0 after extra time in Rio de Janeiro to lift their fourth World Cup trophyNeuer played a pivotal role in Germany's success and was deservedly named best goalkeeper of the tournament. He received the Golden Glove alongside Lionel Messi (r.), who was crowned best player in BrazilBack on home shores, Neuer was presented with Germany's Footballer of the Year award ahead of FC Bayern's opening clash of the 2014/15 season against VfL WolfsburgThe accolades have kept on coming thick and fast at the tail end of the year. In November, Neuer and his World Cup-winning team-mates received the coveted After beating AS Roma 7-1 in the Champions League, Neuer and his Bayern colleagues got to meet Pope Francis in a private audience at the VatikanThe Gelsenkirchen-born custodian has been in fine form so far this season also in the Bundesliga. Against Borussia Mönchengladbach on Matchday 9, Neuer kept Bayern's unbeaten record intact with several smart saves, including this one from Max Kruse (l.)So will Neuer be heading for yet another award? The World Player of the Year is named at the Ballon d'Or Gala in Zurich on 12 January 2015